STAFF in Kirklees Council's social services today landed a coveted award for their work.

For the third year running, their department won a top- notch three-star rating from Government watchdogs.

Workers who achieved the award were praised today.

Clr Dennis Hullock, the council's Cabinet member for health and social care, said: "Our staff, and partners, care for the most vulnerable people in our community.

"They do so seven day a week, 52 weeks a year."

The annual ratings by the Commission for Social Care Inspection come as the council struggles to deal with a projected £7m deficit on its social services spending..

Just 26 councils out of 150 in the country got the maximum rating today - with Kirklees being one of only two in Yorkshire.

One in four councils still languish near the bottom, with one or no stars at all.

And five councils have lost their coveted three-star status.

Calderdale's rating will be announced in the next few weeks, along with seven other councils which have undergone a new-style review.

Clr Hullock said: "Once again this judgement is testa- ment to the continued commitment of the council and its staff to continuously improve the services we provide.

"To receive the top rating for a third year demonstrates the consistency of our approach, the commitment and dedication of our staff and our determination to continue to meet the ever-increasing demands for our services."

A second national inspection report issued today judged overall services provided for children in Kirklees.

Inspectors from the Ofsted education watchdog and the Commission for Social Care Inspection said services consistently delivered above minimum requirements and had excellent capacity for further improvement.

Clr Geoff Alvy, Cabinet member for children's services, said: "I am obviously very pleased with the external endorsement of the strength of services for children in Kirklees and our excellent capacity to make them even better.

"But it is disappointing that because of inspection rules the inspectors were not able to take into account the significant improvements this year in tests at Key Stage two and GCSE results, which were among the most improved in the country."